Closure of bottles, jars and like containers



CLOSURE 0F BOTTLES, JARS AND LIKE CONTAINERS P. E. CLIFT Jan. 20, 1959 V '7 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 6, 1956 P. E. CLIFT 2,869,303

CLOSURE 0F BOTTLES, JARS AND LIKE CONTAINERS Jan. 20, 1959 7 SheetsShet 2- Filed Feb. 6, 1956 Jan. 20, 1959 P. E. CLlFT CLOSURE OF BOTTLES, JARS AND LIKE'CONTAINERS Fil ed Feb. e; 1956- 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Jan. 20, 1959 P. E. CLlFT 2,869,

CLOSURE 0F BOTTLES, JARS AND LIKE CONTAINERS Filed Feb. 6, 1956 7 SheetsSheet 4 LLUeR'mE PE. C (13ft Jan. 20, 1959 P. E. CLIFT 2,869,303

CLOSURE OF BOTTLES, JARS AND LIKE CONTAINERS Filed Feb. 6, 1956 V 7 Shets-Sheet 5 P. E. CLlFT 2,869,303

CLOSURE OF BOTTLES, JARS AND LIKE CONTAINERS Jan. 20, 1959 7 Sheets-Sheet 6' Filed Feb. 6, 1956 Jan. 20, 1959 FIE. CLIFT CLOSURE OF- BOTTLES, JARS AND LIKE CONTAINERS Fil'ed Feb. e, 1956 7 Sheets-Sheet '7 nude United States Patent CLOSURE OF BOTTLES, JARS AND LIKE CONTAINERS Paul Emory Cliff, Rugby, England, assignor to Thomas Hunter Limited, Rugby, England Application February 6, 1956,'Serial No. 563,798

Claims priority, application Great Britain February 7, 1955 7 Claims. (Cl. 53-331) The invention relates to the closure of bottles, jars and like containers, especially those made of glass, by means of caps having a skirt which is deformed in situ to engage a thread formed about the container mouth during the closure of the container, for example, as described in my application Serial No. 468,936 now Patent No. 2,765,600. According to that application the cap is pressed on to the container mouth end, while so pressed, spaced portions of the skirt, preferably at a beaded edge thereof, are indented to engage tightly under the respective element of a multistart thread. Alternatively, in another example, a continuous single or multistart thread form is provided on the container mouth.

It will be appreciated that a predetermined orientation of the thread relative to the cap-deforming elements of the closing head is necessary to ensure that the deformation, for example, indentations must be immediately adjacent to the under edge of the respective thread elements. A small relative rotation in one direction would result in the side face of the threads preventing deformation and a small relative rotation in the opposite direction would, in the method of application Ser. No. 468,936, result in the indented lugs not engaging-the threads, or not engaging them sufliciently tightly.

.I had previously proposed a method of closing a container having a short multistart thread formed about its mouth in which the container is automatically orientated relative to a closing head, by moving a crown member vertically into and out of engagement with the container, the latter and the crown member having cooperating guide meansadapted to impart a rotary motion to the container about a vertical axis when the container has other than the desired orientation, and thereafter placing and pressing a cap having a cylindrical skirt over the container mouth and indenting spaced portions of the skirt by means of the closing head to engage tightly under the respective elements of the multistart thread.

The method set out in the preceding paragraph is generally satisfactory in the case of cylindrical-bodied jars, but presents a certain difiiculty with acircular containers such as polygonal jars, as the latter, when engaged in a star wheel or other feeding device (conveyor), are not so readily rotated to the desired orientation.

In certain cases using polygonal containers, the desired orientation, is obtained automatically by coaction between the container and star wheel feeding device or other conveyor. This only applies, however, when the thread form is correctly orientated relative to the polygonal form of the container, and there are difiiculties in obtaining adequate supplies of glassware on which the thread form is so orientated.

It is one object of this invention to provide a method and apparatus which will be universally effective, irrespective of whether the container has a cylindrical or polygonal or other .acircular-shaped body and of whether or not the thread form has any particular orientation relative to the container body.

According to this invention, a method of closing ice any resulting relative rotation between the closing head and the container when the two have the required relative orientation by engagement of a guide member, which rotates with the closing head, with the top fitting of the container, the top fitting and the guide member having c0- operating guide means, and pressing a skirted cap over the container mouth whilst the skirt is deformed by means of the closing head to engage tightly the respective elements of the thread.

The guide means of the top fitting may, in the case of an interrupted multistart thread, be formed by the multistart thread elements. Generally, however, it is preferable to have the guide means in the form of slots or abutments, having a predetermined orientation relative to the thread, formed in a so-called transfer ring encircling the container immediately below the thread. Since the transfer ring is formed in the same mould part as the thread, in contradistinction to the body which may be formed in a separate mould part there is no difficulty in securing the desired relation between the abutments or slots and the thread.

The guide member most suitably forms a co-axial part of the closing head.

- An advantage of employing a suitably-formed transfer ring as guide means is that a cap can be placed over the container before the orientation of the closing head is efl'ected, thus avoiding delay between the orientating and sealing operations, or the complication of previously inserting a cap in the enclosing head. It would be possible to effect these operations in immediate sequence during a single vertical reciprocation of the closing head or container, or by effecting two reciprocations. In the latter case the closing head may be constructed so as to permit the indentation of the cap skirts only on alternate reciprocations, or one of the reciprocations may be of insufiicient vertical extent to effect sealing. In the course of the double reciprocation the closing head may advantageously lift the cap in the course of the first reciprocation to permit the injection of gas or vapour, for example high temperature vapour for the inducement of vacuum above cold-packed products, or for purposes of sterilisation, or softening of gasket material.

The closing head will generally be arranged to move down over a container .to be sealed, on which a cap has already been placed, to a level at which guide means fitted on the closing head and on the container are in horizontal register permitting engagement therebetween when the head is rotated to bring these means into correct mutual orientation. Mechanism may be incorporated for rotating the head automatically whilst the container remains stationary, the resulting relative rotation ceasing when the correct orientation of the head is reached, preferably by termination of the rotation. This termination may be brought about by slipping of the rotary drive to the head, for example by slipping of a friction clutch or ratchet and pawl mechanism or by switching off the drive as a result of movement of the guide means carried by the head as engagement takes place. Thereafter the head is moved further down to cause radial inward movement of cap deforming members, registered horizontally with the cap by a pressure plate comprised by the head. This pressure plate should be rotatably mounted in the head, so as to rest without dragging on the cap whilst the head is being orientated.

The further downward movement of the closing head may be effected immediately after the engagement of the guide means, or alternatively the head may first be lifted, picking up the cap by any convenient device so as to permit the injection of gas or vapour before sealing.

Patented Jan. 20,1959;

Where it is preferred not to disengage the head from the container between the orientation and sealing operatlons, but nevertheless to pick up the cap for the aforesaid purpose, this may be done by an initial reciprocation of the head.

It will be understood that, instead of reciprocatingthe head vertically above the container,-the latter'may be reciprocated vertically below the head. 7

The invention is further described with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

Figure l is a sectional side view on the line I-Il of Figure 2;

Figure 2 is a sectional plan view on the'line II-II of Figure 1; V

Figure 3 is an end elevation, partly cut away, of mechanism for moving a closing head, showing the latter and a container to be sealed in phantom;

Figure 4 is a partly sectional front elevation corresponding to Figure 3, taken on the line IV-IV of Figure 5;

Figure 5 is a plan, part sectional view on the line V-V of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary view corresponding to the lower right hand corner of Figure 1, showing an alternative form of guide member;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary plan view corresponding to Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a sectional view on the line VIII-.VIII of Figure 6;

Figure 9 is a side view of the top fitting of a container;

Figure 10 is a plan view corresponding to Figure 9;

Figure 11 is a front view of a head driving mechanism;

Figure 12 is a side view; and

Figure 13 is a plan view, parts corresponding to those of Figures 3-5 having the corresponding reference numeral.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, there is provided a closing head comprising beaded cylindrical crown member 1 to which is secured a cylindrical skirt 19 which isslit to provide cantilever fingers 2. Sliding axially within member 1 is a second crown member 3 formed with cantilever fingers 4 in register with fingers 2. Member 3 is secured to a sleeve 5 slidably mounted in member 1' and constrained against relative rotation by a key 6. A stem 7 is rotatably engaged in sleeve 5 by a pinned boss 8 and a thrust bearing 9 against which seats a pressure plate 10 attached to the lower end of a stem 7. The lower portion of sleeve 5 is of inverted cup form and is slotted at 11 to receive fingers 4 and at 12 to receive guide means hereinafter described.

Pivoted between flanges 13 extending radially from sleeve 5 are guide members or rockers 14 biased by springs 15 mounted on studs 16 let into sleeve 5 so that their tips 17, constituting the aforementioned guide means, are urged radially inwards. carry rollers 18 riding on segments of skirts 19, formed at their lower ends with cam surfaces 20.

In operation, the head is moved down over a cap placed on a container to be sealed, until plate 10 engages the cap. The downward movement continues slightly and, since crown member 3 and sleeve 5 are brought to rest, crown member 1 moves relative to member 3, carrying with it cam form 20, and thereby allowing rollers 18 and hence guide members 17 to move radially inwards. This brings guide members 17 into engagement with the transfer ring of the container as hereinafter described, whereupon the head (except for stem 7 and plate 10) is rotated by mechanism hereinafter described. As a result of this rotation, guide members 17 engage complementary guide members provided on the transfer ring, whereupon the rotation is terminated, the container being clamped down by plate 10 so as not to rotate.

Next the head is lifted, carrying with it the cap by means of a suction orifice 21 formed in plate 10 communicating by bore 22 in stem 7 with a supply ofreduced pressure Rockers 14 also I air, to permit steam injection to be effected. Afterwards, the head is again moved down, but the relative movement of member 1 is continued to a greater depth to bring cam forms 23 at the inner tips of fingers 2 into engagement with complementary abutments 24 on fingers 4, to move the latter inwards to effect sealing. The head is again lifted and the sequence of operations repeated on the next container to be sealed.

Mechanism for giving the vertical and rotary movement to the closing head is illustrated in Figures 3-5. The vertical movement is transmitted to a follower 25 by a rotary cam 26, follower 25 being attached to a pillar 27 carrying the closing head and also a part 28 of head rotating mechanism described below. Pillar 27 is slidably carried in guide 29.

Cam 26 is mounted on a shaft 30 driven by any convenient means (not shown), and a second cam 31 is also mounted on this shaft. A follower 32 for cam 31 (Figure 5) is carried at an intermediate position on an arm 33 pivoted at one end 34 to a frame 35 comprised by the machine. The frame incorporates a pillar or standard 36 (Figure 3) guides 29 and also supports shaft 30. At its other end, arm 33 is pivoted to one end of a cross link 37 which is yoked at its other, bifurcated end to a slide 38 carried by part of frame 35. Slide 38 is coupled to a rack 39 by means of a retractable pawl 40, adapted to slip out of driving engagement with the rack under a predetermined load. Rack 39 engages a pinion 41 splined to a spindle- 42 protruding from part 28. This spindle is keyed to a spur wheel 43 engaging a further spur wheel 44 for a head carrier flange 45 bolted to the top of crown memher 1' by way of boltholes 46. A hearing 47 is provided between pillar 27 and part 28.

A- suitable top fitting for a container is shown in Figures 9' and 10. This comprises a mouth 48 formed with interrupted thread elements 49 just below its outer face. Below the thread elements is a transfer ring 50 formed with slots 51 serving as guide means having the same spacing as the thread elements but being staggered with respect thereto to the same extent as guide members 17 and fingers 4.

Figures 6-8 illustrate an alternative operating device for guide member 17. In this case the guide member is formed on a rocker 52 pivoted about a vertical axis to a' lug 53 carried at the lower end of sleeve 5. The guide member is biassed radially inwards by a spring 54 held in position by a screw plug 55 in the rocker. The latter incorporates a follower 56 for cam surface 20.

In operation, when the head is rotated, supposing it not already by chance to have the correct orientation, guide means 17 eventually fall into slots 51 whereupon the resistance to rotation arising from the thrust of pressure plate 10, causes pawl 40 to disengage from ratchet 39.

Instead of a suction orifice any convenient cap-lifting means may be provided, such as spring catches substituted for one opposed pair of rockets 14. In this case it is not essential for the cap-lifting means to be such that the pressure plate engages the cap in the course of the lifting operation.

It will be understood that the cams can be arranged so that orientation and sealing follow in immediate sequence.

In this case, if the cap is to be lifted to permit the injection of gas or vapour, the cams may be arranged so that the closing head is reciprocated vertically once to pick up the cap, and then again stepwise, to orientate itself and also seal on the cap.

Where the orientation of the head is to be effected automatically and it is not desired to incorporate a rotary drive which slips upon engagement of the guide means, the movement of the guide means carried by the closing head may be arranged to switch off the drive,

for example by means of an electrical microswitch. In the arrangement of guide means shown in the drawings this movement is radiai, but the substitution of a circumferential retractive movement is not precluded.

In the case of a hand machine means may be incorporated to indicate to the operator the head level at which orientation should be carried out. A hand wheel may be provided on the head for rotating the latter, it being easy to stop the rotation as soon as the respective guide means'on the head and container engage.

Where the containers to be sealed have a continuous screw thread, the closing head may be arranged to impress a corresponding thread form in the cap skirt, for example by means of rollers or by radially moved thread die segments.

Instead of rotating the head intermittently as described with reference to Figures 3-5, a continuous rotary drive may be employed, incorporating a torque-limiting coupling, such as a spring-loaded clutch.

Such an arrangement is shown in Figures 11-13.

The spur wheel 44 of Figure 4 is here replaced by a pulley 57 for turning-head carrier flange 45, which is rotatably mounted below a bracket 58 carrying a bifurcated arm 59 constituting a yoke for a driving pulley 60. A belt 61 is engaged about pulleys 57 and 60. The latter is splined onto an override shaft 62 journalled in a bracket 63 mounted on-frame 35. A flanged bush 64 on shaft 62, fitting into the top of bracket 63, supports a skirted sprocket 65 journalled on the shaft, the skirt being formed with ratchet teeth 66 at its upper end. These teeth cooperate with like teeth of a contrate ratchet 67 splined to the same shaft to form a torque-limiting clutch adjustably loaded by a spring 68 bearing at its lower end against thrust washer 69 and at its upper end against an adjusting nut 70. For driving sprocket 65, a chain 71 (Figure 13) is provided, with an associated drive sprocket 72 keyed to a driving shaft 73, and an idler sprocket 74. The last two sprockets are mounted to frame 35 by a bifurcated bracket 75 and a bracket 76 respectively.

The invention finds particular application to the sealing of containers having a multistart thread, and consists in one aspect in a container having a top fitting formed with a multistart thread and a transfer ring formed with at least two symmetrically disposed slots having a circumferential separation equal to, or an integral multiple of, the circumferential separation of the component threads. The corresponding guide means on the closing head, resiliently loaded to enter the slots, are preferably at least two in number and symmetrically disposed.

I claim:

.1. Apparatus for closing a container having a thread formed about its mouth by pressing a skirted cap over the' container mouth whilst the skirt is deformed by means of a closing head to engage tightly the respective elements of the thread, comprising a rotatably mounted closing head, a support below the head for a container to be sealed, means for effecting relative vertical reciprocation between the support and head, and guide means carried by the head to rotate therewith adapted, when brought into horizontal and circumferential register with complementary guide means formed on a container positioned on the support, to engage the complementary guide means automatically and thereby constrain the head against rotation relativeto the container, in which cam mechanism is provided for effecting said reciprocation, and a rotary drive connection is provided for rotating the head, the drive connection incorporating torquelimiting means. 0

2. Apparatus for closing a container having a thread formed about its mouth by pressing a skirted cap over the container mouth whilst the skirt is deformed by means of a closing head to engage tightly the respective closing head, a support below the head for a container to be sealed, means for effecting relative vertical reciprocation between the support and head, and guide means carried by the head to rotate therewith adapted, when brought into horizontal and circumferential register with complementary guide means formed on a container positioned on the support, to engage the complementary guide means automatically and thereby constrain the head against rotation relative to the container, in which cam mechanism is provided for effecting said reciprocation, and a rotary drive connection is provided for rotating the head, the drive connection incorporating torque-limiting means, said torque-limiting means comprising resiliently loaded tooth arranged to jump out of engagement with a member having a complementary recess when the driving load reaches a predetermined maximum.

3. Apparatus for closing a container having a thread formed about its month by pressing a skirted cap over the container mouth whilst the skirt is deformed by means of a closing head to engage tightly the respective elements of the thread, comprising a rotatably mounted closing head, a support below the head for .a container to be sealed, means for eifecting relative vertical reciprocation between the support and head, and guide means carried by the head to rotate therewith adapted, when brought into horizontal and circumferential register with complementary guide means formed on a container positioned on the support, to engage the complementary guide mcans automatically and thereby constrain the head against rotation relative to the container, in which the head cornprises a rotatably journalled pressure plate adapted to clamp a container to be sealed when the head and container are approached to first position sufficient to bring the respective guide means into position for engagement on relative rotation as necessary therebetween, Without the container entering the head sufliciently to effect sealing thereof, and comprising means for automatically effecting stepwise approach of the container and head, in one movement to said first position and in a succeeding movement to seal the container.

4. Apparatus for closing a container having a thread formed about its mouth by pressing a skirted cap over the container mouth whilst the skirt is deformed by means of a closing head to engage tightly the respective elements of the thread, comprising a rotatably mounted ciosing head, a support below the head for a container to. be sealed, means for effecting relative vertical reciprocation between the support and head, and guide means carried by the head to rotate therewith adapted, when brought into horizontal and circumferential register with complementary guide means formed on a container positioned on the support, to engage the complementary guide means automatically and thereby constrain the head against rotation relative to the container, in which the head comprises a rotatably journalled pressure plate adapted to clamp a container to be sealed when the head and container are approached to first position sufiicient to bring the respective guide means into position for engagement on relative rotation as necessary therebetween, without the container entering the head sufiiciently to effect sealing thereof, and comprising means for automatically effecting stepwise approach of the container and head, in one movement to said first position and in a succeeding movement to seal the container said approach-effecting means being arranged to effect a preceding approach to and withdrawal from said first position, and the head incorporates cap-lifting means operative on said withdrawal to permit steam injection into the container headspace.

5. Apparatus for closing a container having a thread 1 formed about its mouth by pressing a skirted cap over the container mouth whilst the skirt is deformed by means of a closing head to engage tightly the respective elements matically and thereby constrain the head against rotation relative to the container, in which said guide means carried by the head are in the form of spring-loaded fingers adapted to enter complementary slots in the transfer ring of a container to be sealed.

6. Apparatus for closing a container having a thread formed about its mouth by pressing a skirted cap over the container mouth whilst the skirt is deformed by means of a closing head to engage tightly the respective elements of the thread, comprising a rotatably mounted closing head, a support below the head for a container to'be sealed, means for effecting relative vertical reciprocation between the support and head, and guide means carried by the head to rotate therewith adapted, when brought into horizontal and circumferential register with complementary guide means formed on a container positioned on the support, to engage the complementary guidemeans automatically and thereby constrain the head against-rota tion relative to the container in which said guide means carried by the head are in the form of spring-loaded fingers adapted to enter complementary slots in the transfer ring of a container to be sealed, and comprising cam means for holding the fingers in a retracted position as the head and a container to be sealed are approached, to' bring the fingers into horizontal register with the transfer ring of the container and the latter into engagement with a rotary pressure plate carried in the head, and for allowing the fingers to advance on further relative movement of the container into the head whilst the fingers remain in said horizontal register.

7. Apparatus for closing a container having a thread formed about its mouth by pressing a skirted cap over the container mouth whilst the skirt is deformed by means of a closing head to engage tightly the respective elements of the thread, comprising a rotatably mounted closing head, a support below the head for a container to be sealed, means for effecting relative vertical reciprocation between the support and head, and guide means carried by the head to rotate therewith adapted, when brought into horizontal and circumferential register with complementary guide means formed on a container positioned on the support, to engage the complementary guide means automatically and thereby constrain the head against rotation relative to the container, in which a continuous rotary drive is provided for the head, and switch means responsive to engagement by the guide means for terminating the rotary drive.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

